Tewa tourney breaks fundraising record

A record-breaking $115,000 was raised at the 2024 Tewathohnhi’saktha Business Golf Challenge, this year benefitting the Kahnawake Youth Center (KYC).

Each year, Tewathohnhi’saktha asks for proposals from potential beneficiaries, which are then deliberated by its board of directors. In past years, more than one organization or project has been the beneficiary of the tournament’s fundraising.

Although he is now retired from Tewathohnhi’saktha, Bud Morris still assisted coordinator Lisa Morris to organize this year’s edition, and he was ready to enjoy the fun along with the rest of the players.

“It really is a fun event. People enjoy themselves quite a bit when they participate in this tournament,” said Bud.

“It’s fun. People know it's always a fundraising tournament, and that it’s always for a great cause,” said Kyle Zacharie, KYC’s executive director who was also in attendance.

“Some of the people playing, their kids are going to be on the trip too,” said Zacharie.

Right from the first hole, golfers were laughing, joking around after their teammates’ shots, and starting the tournament off on a fun note already.

Not only is the tournament fun, but it’s also been successful for many years, not just this year’s record-breaking edition.

Fundraising golf tournaments have been run by Tewathohnhi’saktha - and its predecessor, the Kahnawake Economic Development Commission - since 1999. The tournament has sold out and has always filled out its sponsorship slots for many years, said Bud.

“We’re pretty proud of this tournament,” he said. “It’s come a long way and getting better and better.”

Another big part of the tournament’s success is the course itself. The Lafleur Golf Club in Kahnawake has been the host of the last few editions of the tournament because it has the facilities for dinner and an auction, on top of the 18 holes needed for the event.

More than 100 golfers split into 30 teams of four for the Vegas-style tournament.

After a rainy week, it was a typically warm and sunny summer day at tee time. Teams all started at the same time, starting at different parts of the course so as to finish at roughly the same time – in time for dinner and the auction.

“The auction at the end of the evening after dinner is always a highlight of the event,” said Morris.

Auction prizes were provided by the tournament’s sponsors and were bundled together. They included, among other things, a new bicycle, camping equipment, beadwork, and other original artworks.

In addition to the tournament’s registration fees, and the auction items, fundraising comes from their numerous sponsors and a half-and-half.

The $115,000 raised will primarily serve to fund KYC’s travel and exchange program. According to Tewathohnhi’saktha, the costs of the 2025 trip to Scandinavia were completely covered by the tournament’s fundraising.

Zacharie said that the idea to go to Scandinavia next year, like other destinations in years past, came from discussion with the youth and the travel and exchange program’s team. During that discussion, the idea of going to Europe was brought forward, and Scandinavia was ultimately chosen.

“It’s not your normal trip, going to England or France or things like that,” said Zacharie.

The trip will include visits to the capital cities of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Estonia as well as museum and historical places.

The program will send 28 youth and four chaperones on the trip to Northern Europe.

According to Zacharie, the aims of the Travel and Exchange program are “to get any youth in our community a chance to experience the world, to see other cultures and to see the whole big world past the community.”

In previous years, the program has brought dozens of community members to countries like Peru, Australia, and New Zealand.

This article was originally published in print on August 30 in issue 33.35 of The Eastern Door.

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